Joint



May 19, 1936. T. THOMPSON JOINT Filed July 51, 1954 INVENTOR ORNEYPatented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in scaffolds and has referenceparticularly to the type of scaiford supports used on the outsideconstruction work of modern buildings, which require apparatus ofparticularly heavy duty, convenience of installation, absolute securityand ease of manipulation even under very heavy loads.

My invention hasfor its principal object to provide a scaffold which maybe adjusted for heavy or light duty without requiring additional handsto manipulate the mechanism.

A further object of this invention is the arrangement of a connectingdevice at the end of the scaffold platform, and a common means forreadily manipulating two scaffolds so that they may be connectedtogether even by a single person.

' Another object is to provide means whereby one man with the aid ofthis invention and without any other outside aid may connect very heavyscaffolds together so that they will not separate under any conditions.

Other and further objects will present themselves upon reading thefollowing description and will become obvious to those versed in thebuilding construction arts upon reading the following specification inconjunction with the annexed drawing.

The foregoing objects have been accomplished by a device consisting ofthe arrangement and combination of parts illustratively exemplified inthe accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a. scaffold shown suspended fromsupports fronting on a building wall.

Figure 2 is an end elevation and sectional view of the scaffold showingthe method and. means used to connect the winch or hoisting mechanism tothe scaffold platform and is taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view taken from above; of the apparatusshown in Fig. 2, showing the details of the invention more clearly.

Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, taken on theline 4-4 thereof, with a portion of the equipment broken away to showthe details of the connecting mechanism in greater detail.

Figure 5 is another view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4, and showingfurther details of construction of the joint or joining mechanism.

Referring, now, more particularly to the drawing, the overhead beams orgirders, temporarily installed in the steel structures of the buildingsat an elevation above that to be covered by the operations of the crewon the scafiold, are not shown. However, the scaffold proper issuspended from these beams by means of the usual steel cable I I, whichis looped at its upper end around these beams.

The platform frame forming the base of the scaffold, comprises in eachinstance, two pairs of slightly separated parallel channel beams I2,disposed longitudinally of the scaffold and with their flanges directedinwardly towards each other, as carefully illustrated in Figure 3.Adjacent each end, the beams I2 are tied together in their spacedrelation by a rod I3, anchored in the web portions of the beams. Therods I3 are separated from each other a sufficient distance toaccommodate the closed end of a U-shaped hanger I4 thereover, asillustratively exemplified in Figure 2. The material of the hanger I4 isof a width equal to the space between the beams and the upright arms I4,I5 project to a. substantial height above the beams I2 to support themechanism of the hoist. In assembly a number of these platform units areused, depending of course, upon the length of scaffolding to be set up,and when the number is determined they are separated from each other andplanks I6 are placed over the pairs of beams I2 and perpendicularly tothe longitudinal axis of the scaffold. As illustrated in Figure 1 andFigure 2, the planks I6 are accommodated between the parallel channelbeams I2 of the scaffolding and are heldin place by short sections I! ontheir under sides.

A rack support I8, Fig. 1 is provided with bracket portion I9 andattached by means of bolts to one side of the hanger I4, I5. A safetybar or rod 9-is inserted across from one of these supports I8 to itsneighboring support I8 on another hanger.

Thus far only the overhead supporting beams and the scaffold platformhave been described. The present invention contemplates an improvedjoint for linking the scaffolds or scaffold units together at theirbases or platforms.

As stated in the foregoing description, each hanger I3, I4, I5 supportsa hoist comprising a drum 22 rotatably carried between the upright armsI4, I5 about midway of their height.

In order to connect two neighboring scaffolds together with theirassociated parts, by means of the invention or device, the U-shapedelement 25 is dismantled by removing the bolt member 26 and placing theU-shaped member 25 around the bolt 21 of the left hand scaffold of Fig.3 and Fig. 4. Then rod I3 which may or may not have been withdrawn, isput in place in the hole provided therefore in the frame member I4.Next, the

scaffold on the right of the above enumerated,

figures is moved over and bolt member 28 is inserted'into the U-shapedmember 25. The two scaffolds will then be found to have the channel.

members l2 thereof aligned as tothe holes 29 thereof, and rod 13 may beinserted connecting frame member l4 together with the channel membersI2. As a final step, bolt 26 is inserted in place and plate 30 is placedover the space between the two scafiold platforms. 7

Bolt member 3| by means of which U-shaped member 25 is firmly fastenedto frame member I 4 and angle-iron 33 may be made as shown in full Thisbolt 3| serves as an additional support for the scaffold and inaddilines, encircling rod I3.

tion keeps the channel portions I2 properlyspaced and in place. 7

To connect the ordinary scaffolds carrying :a

light load, either boards are placed across the two scaffolds to connectthem or cords are'used;

This is a dangerous condition, as a break in one cable will cause theworkers to be plunged to their death in the street below- Furthermore,one man is not suflicient to perform this task. If several.

men stop their work to assist in the lifting operation or in the joiningoperation, then considerable, time is lost and in the majority of casesthere is J r not enough room to care for the men at the point ofjoining. 7 What is claimed is:

l. A flexible joint for a scaffold comprising a' bar having a pair ofarms forming a U, a' pair of scaffold platforms, a loop on eachplatform, each of said arms being insertable jinto one ,of said loops ata time, and means bridging said'arms and locking the loop members inplace thereon. a 2. A flexible joint for a scaffold comprising a 'barhaving a pair of arms forming a U, a-pair of scaffold ,platforms, a loopon each platform, each of said arms being insertable into one of said

